Established in 2006, our story began with just one product – our original lash conditioning serum – inspired by the immense love between our founder, Dr. Michael Brinkenhoff, and his beloved wife Gayle, as a solution to help her feel beautiful during her courageous fight against breast cancer. From that single, original product comes an entire collection of beauty-enhancing, solution-oriented cosmetics that revitalize the natural beauty and inner spirit of all women, while giving back to the cause that started it all.
As we near the 15 year anniversary of RevitaLash Cosmetics' inception, we asked our Facebook and Instagram followers what they most wanted to know about the brand and its founder, and their questions did not disappoint. Favorite place to travel, where he sees Revitalash Cosmetics in another 15 years, and his favorite product in the line are some our faves, as well as more personal questions about his muse, Gayle.
How did you start developing the original RevitaLash formula?
I developed the original RevitaLash eyelash conditioning serum formula to help my wife, Gayle, feel more beautiful during her courageous 25-year battle with metastatic breast cancer. Gayle wasn’t one to get down on herself, but the cancer treatments made lashes, brows and hair weak and brittle. As an Ophthalmologist, I wondered if there was something I could do. After much trial and error, I found a formula I thought might work – and lo and behold, it did! Gayle noticed her lashes began to look and feel healthier, and her friends, family and fellow cancer patients noticed too. From there, it was a tiger by the tail. Everyone wanted to get their hands – and their lashes - on RevitaLash!
When did you decide to start expanding the line?
Once that original product was established, I started thinking that I could apply the same science to the brows, as well as the hair, and both have been very well received.
What’s the greatest lesson you’ve learned from being a business owner?
The greatest lesson I’ve learned is that if you take the time to create a product that delivers on its promises, people will notice. RevitaLash Cosmetics has never set out to be a fast-beauty company – each product is formulated with the best ingredients, is rigorously tested, and must live up to our high standards before it’s ready to go to market - even if that means it takes years to get there. I believe that the care and passion we put behind each product speaks loud and clear, and I am proud of, and confident in, the line we have today.
What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
RevitaLash Cosmetics isn’t just a company founded on beauty. It’s more than skin deep, and that’s why we give back to breast cancer awareness year-round. I am so proud of the work we do to help advance cancer research, and I hope one day we can be a part of finding the cure.
As a global brand available in over 70 countries, you’ve had the chance to travel the world. What are your favorite places to visit and why?
While I find something I love or admire in each place I’ve had the opportunity to travel to, Paris, France is one of my favorites and I always look forward to visiting. Every direction you look is a living post card. I really enjoy visiting and taking in the museums – they’ve got some of the best. It’s a wonderfully beautiful city, rich with history and excellent food too!
What would you want the world to know about Gayle?
Gayle was truly one-of-a-kind. She was one of the strongest people I’ve ever known – both in her spirit and in her heart - and she was one of the softest too. I was very lucky to have had the time with her that I did. She was my soul mate and my muse. Life with Gayle was rich in all the most meaningful ways and I am eternally grateful for our time together.
Many people want to get involved with charities but aren’t sure how – what advice would you give them?
There are many ways to get involved with charity work, from volunteering, donating, organizing and more. To start off, it’s important to define what organizations or causes are closest to your heart. Do your research, reach out and network – don’t be shy! Charities are always looking for people who want to help and the world so needs it, especially right now.
Where do you see RevitaLash® Cosmetics in the next 15 years?
Of course, we will continue our mission to find a cure for the disease that took Gayle’s life, and the lives of so many others. Aside from that, I am excited as we embark on our sustainability journey. It is all our responsibility to take care of the earth, and as we move forward as a brand, how we do that has become an important topic and something we are going to do better at so stay tuned!
